A static absorption method was used to study the influence of soluble carbon and nitrogen on ammonia volatilization from different thermal zone soils, such as black soil, red soil and cinnamon soil, performed in laboratory. Results showed that nitrogen application enhanced ammonia volatilization significantly. The amount of ammonia volatilization in cinnamon soil ranged from 14.3 to 7.37 mg x kg(-1), which in black soil from 1.52 to 1.11 mg x kg(-1) and from 0.998 to 0.402 mg x kg(-1) in red soil applied with only nitrogen or nitrogen amended with soluble carbon. Moreover, soluble carbon decreased ammonia volatilization caused by nitrogen, and amounts of decrease were 27.0%, 48.5%, 60.0% in black soil, cinnamon soil and red soil separately. The amount of ammonia volatilization from black soil and cinnamon soil applied only nitrogen was in an order of CK > NPK > NPKOM, while contrary order appeared if nitrogen was amended with soluble carbon. However, it was the same order for red soil applied with only nitrogen or nitrogen amended with soluble carbon. In addition, the variances of NH4+ -N and NO3- -N contents in cinnamon soil were larger than other soils, which suggested that cinnamon soil had high potential of nitrogen loss.